Brother's success fires up Peter Mata'utia

By
MITCH JENNINGS

Recalled Dragons centre Peter Mata'utia hopes the electric form of his brother Sione can inspire him to finally cement his place in the top grade.

Peter Mata'utia

RUGBY LEAGUE

Recalled Dragons centre Peter Mata'utia hopes the electric form of his brother Sione can inspire him to finally cement his place in the top grade.

Eighteen-year-old Sione Mata'utia scored a dazzling hat-trick in just his fourth NRL game as the Knights upset the Warriors 28-22 last week.

The performance - which prompted the normally reserved Wayne Bennett to declare him a future Knights captain - was part of a big weekend for the Mata'utia clan, with 20-year-old Chanel also scoring for the Knights against the Warriors.

Peter's four-pointer in the Dragons's victory over the Raiders brought their combined tally to five tries for the round.

Peter said being the eldest of four brothers regularly saw him paired with "the little one" Sione in some intense backyard scraps with Chanel and middle brother Pat, who also plays NSW Cup for the Newcastle Knights.

"It was intense. I know Pat, the second youngest, lost a few teeth," Mata'utia said.

"It was always me and Sione against Chanel and Pat because we put the oldest and youngest together. It's made the youngest one the biggest out of all of us."

Peter hopes the friendly competition between his brothers can lift them all to new heights, admitting the raps on his talented siblings do fire him up.

"It does, especially when everyone says the little one is the best out of all of us," he said.

"But he's playing great, especially for his age. They're playing really well and it's good to see them enjoying their footy."

Mata'utia, who like Sione debuted for the Knights at just 18 in 2011, has been linked to a move to the Bulldogs and a return to Newcastle after struggling to cement a place with the Dragons.

While he admitted a reunion with his brothers would be nice, Mata'utia said it was important they form their own identities as footballers.

"It would be good to get back with my brothers but I'm here [Dragons] for next year and I'm just worried about holding this spot and cementing it for myself," he said.

"I'd like to do that for myself and let my brothers make their own name for themselves like they're doing now."